Slider for separable fasteners



June 25, 1940. H. MORIN 2,205,694

SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 6, 1938 INVENTOR Y LOU/J H. Mom/v ATTORNEY Patented June 25, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,295,694 SLIDEB ron SEPARABLE ms'rsssns Louis B. Morin, Bronx, N. Y., assignor to White'- hall, Patents Corporation, Bronx, N. Y., a corn ration of New York Application. August 6,1938, Serial No. 223,394 2 Claims. (01. 24-205 This invention relates to what are commonly termed. separablefasteners employing stringers and particularly to sliders arranged upon the stringers and movable longitudinally thereof to,

couple and uncouple the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a slider of what might be termed skeleton formation wherein a major portion of the ineffective wall structure of the slider has been removed to lighten the slider and to economize on the cost thereof especially when made as a die casting; to save a considerable amount of the material in the production of the casting and to further reduce the area of the friction surfaces of the slider. The novel features of 1 the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views,

' and in which: I

Fig. l is a plan view showing a part of a stringer with one of my improved sliders arranged thereon.

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and indicating the stringers in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slider shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive detached and illustrating the same in a partiallyformed position with part of the structure broken away and in section.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of slider.

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 4 and 5 showing other forms of sliders applicable to different types of finger piece mountings; and

Fig. 9 is an exaggerated detail view of a part of the construction as seen in Fig. 3.

In the construction of sliders of the character under consideration it has been the .practice to construct the sliders with closed top and bottom walls defining diverging channelswithin and between said walls and inturned side flanges on said walls except for the provision of apertures in one or both of the walls for the admission of a locking element. In all such types of sliders as heretofore known, the slider has been heavy in weight by virtue of the excessive amount of material employed therein and produces relatively large inner bearing surfaces on the top and bottom walls which frictionally engage the links in the movement of the slider longitudinally of the stringers. It is the purpose of my invention to so construct the sllder'as to materially reduce the weight thereof; and in constructing the slider by the die casting process, a material saving is effected in the production of the finished product in saving the material which would other- 5 wise be disposed in the openings which I have now formed in the top or top and bottom walls of the slider. In addition to this accomplishment,

I have also produced a slider in which the bearing surfaces or the areas of the bearing surfaces 10 of the top and bottom walls have been matedially reduced thereby eliminating, to a large degree, the frictional engagement of the slider in'the movement thereof longitudinally of the stringers resulting in a freely sliding. action of 15 the slider upon the stringers in coupling and uncoupling the same. v

While it is within the spirit of my invention to construct the slider from any kind or class of material and in any of the known processes, 20 I have for illustrative purposes only shown the slider as being formed in a; unitary die cast body which is the most economical form of the device not only from the standpoint of the saving in material but also from the standpoint of saving 25 forming operations which would be necessary in producing the device, for example, from sheet metal or other sheet material. My invention is also designed for constructing metallic sliders for use in conjunction with separable fastener string- 30 ers employing coupling links or scoops composed of non-metallic materials such as various plastic materials and including such materials as cellulose acetate, and in constructing a slider for stringer devices of this kind, it will be apparent that the lightness in weight of the resulting slider will adapt it for use onthe lighter weight fasteners of this type. whereas a heavy metal slider would not be suitable nor practical for such use.

By constructing the slider of the skeleton for- 40 mation and adapting it to the plastic fasteners, I it is desirable to leave a slight clearance between the inner opposed surfaces of the top and bottom wall portions of the slider and the upper and lower surfaces of the links so as to compensate for any possible or likely swelling of the links if subjected to the high' temperatures sometimes encountered in washing or laundering. The openwork structure of the slider will also ob- 50 viate excessive heat transfer from the heated wall of the slider to the stringers which would be the case if a solid walled slider were. employed. In this connection, it-will be understood that the slider may be constructed of thermc-' 55 plastic material and when constructed of the openwork structure disclosed, no excessive distortion in the contour of the slider will take place when subjected to laundering as above stated.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, I have illustrated at l6 one form of slider made according to my invention. In Fig. 1, this slider is shown, for illustrative purposes, arranged upon portions of two stringers Ha, for coupling and uncoupling the links or scoops I2, |2a thereof in the longitudinal movement of the slider on said stringers through the medium of a pull |3 coupled with the slider; the pull being also of an openwork or skeleton structure as shown to be consistent with the structure of the slider in reducing the weight of the entire unit and also in efiecting a saving in the cost of constructing the same.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, modified forms of sliders are identified as Illa, lob, I00, and llld; and while all of the sliders as shown are identical insofar as the top and bottom wall structures proper are concerned, these sliders dilferentiate only in respect to the particular mounting provided for the pull or lock element of the pull which may be employed. While all the sliders have been shown with open top and bottom walls, it is also to be understood that the bottom wall of the slider can be closed in all cases; and this may be desirable in certain uses of the device. In each form of device shown, the top wall of the slider is represented at H, the bottom wall at IS, the intumed side flanges of the top and bottom wall at I6, and the connecting web joining the top and bottom wall centrally of the wide end thereof at II. This web forms diverging channels I8, I611 at the wide end of the slider and the single channel at the narrow end thereof as in other devices of this kind.

Each top and bottom wall |4, H3 at opposite sides thereof has the major portion of the wall removed to form large openings l9, l9a, subdivided by central longitudinal bars 20, 2| joining the upper and lower ends of the walls as clearly apparent. The outer boundary walls of the openings l9, l9a, are formed by inwardly extending flanges 22 which in conjunction with the bars 20, 2|, and the flanges l6, retain the links in position within the slider in the operation thereof longitudinally of the stringers.

With the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the bar 20 has on the upper surface thereof a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 23 forming a socket 24 therebetween which normally opens outwardly through the slider in parallel walls on adjacent surfaces of the lugs 23 or walls which flare outwardly to a slight degree so as to adapt the device for die casting. By this construction, free separation of the dies will be permitted in die casting the slider; it being understood that core pins are used in forming the channels of the slider in accordance with the teachings in a prior application, Serial No. 142,747, filed May 15, 1937.

The finger piece l3 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided at one end with a transverse pivot pin 25 which is adapted to be arranged in the socket 24. The outer ends of the lugs 23 are forced inwardly by a suitable tool or die to form a substantially cylindrical socket for the pin 25 in positively coupling the finger piece with the slider while permitting free swinging movement of the slider in the socket or bearing. I have also shown a pull having at opposite sides thereof projecting pins 26, arranged in staggered relationship to each other as indicated in Fig. 1, which are adapted to pass through the openings l9, to engage the links of both stringers in retaining the slider against longitudinal movement on the stringers in producing what is termed a lock slider. It will be understood in this connection that when the finger piece I3 is raised for operating the slider, the pins 26, 26a are moved out of engagement with the links to permit free movement of the slider.

In that the structure of the modified forms of sliders illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive are identical with the slider shown in Fig. 4 with the exception of the bar on the upper wall of the slider and the mounting for the pull, no detail description of these sliders will be made aside from the modified structure. It will be understood that the description otherwise applied to Fig. 4 is applicable to the sliders in said latter figures. In Fig. 5 an upper bar 20a is provided and has substituted for the adjacent projecting lugs 23 of Figs. 1 to 4, somewhat modified lugs 21 disposed at the end portions of the-slider as clearly seen in the drawing. These lugs are provided with apertures 28 for the mounting of a lock element in connection therewith and arranged longitudinally of the slider in accordance with the teachings of a prior application, Serial No. 155,865, filed July 27, 1937. It will thus be seen that my present form of slider is adapted for sliders of the locking type disclosed in said earlier application.

The structure shown in Fig. 6 differentiates from the structure shown in Fig. 4 in providing a bar 2% on the upper wall of the slider which has lateral apertured extensions 29 which extend into the openings l9 and reduce the area thereof to a slight degree. The aperture 30 in the extensions are adapted to receive lock elements or pins of a finger piece or pull of a joint application, Serial No. 252,534, filed Jan. 24, 1939. In this construction the bar 20b is also provided with projecting lugs 3| similar to the lugs 23 and closed in substantially the same manner in forming a pivot aperture or socket 32 therebetween for the pull.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing I have shown a bar 200 having a single projecting lug 33 having an aperture 34 therein which forms a socket or pivot for a pull for an open ring adapted to be coupled with the lug as in other devices of this kind well known in the art.

In Fig. 8 another form of slider is employed wherein the bar 20d includes an elongated web 35 of T-shaped cross-sectional form arranged upon the upper surface of the bar 20d to form elongated channels 36, at opposite sides of the bar for the coupling of a pull therewith to permit longitudinal movement of the pull on the slider in accordance with the teachings of other devices of this type and as known in the art.

Fig. 9 of the drawing shows an exaggerated detail viewiof a part of the construction as shown in Fig. 3 to indicate the clearance provided between the top and bottom walls of the slider to compensate for the swelling of thermoplastic links as previously referred to. In this figure, part of the top wall is shown at M and part of the bottom wall at I5. These walls have central bars partially indicated at 20 and 2| respectively. The inner surfaces 20a, 2|a of these bars are arranged closer together than are the corresponding inner surfaces Ila, |5a of said top and bottom walls.

In the use of the several sliders disclosed, it will clearly appear that the operating surfaces which engage the links or scoops of the stringers 7i especially in the operation of closing the stringers takes place primarily upon the side flanges l 6 and the inwardly extending flanges 22 which may collectively be said to form L-shaped side flanges at the sides of the slider, aside from the narrow end web portions of the walls l4 and I5 which support the said flanges in connection with the central bars 20, 2|. This constitutes one of the advantageous structural features in applicants device and brings about a reduction in frictional engagement with the links as will be apparent.

It will be understood that my improved slider structure which may be termed a skeleton type of slider also renders the links accessible through upper and lower surfaces of the slider and prevents any possible jamming of foreign elements between the links and inner surfaces of the slider and will thus eliminate to a large degree the jamming of devices of the kind under consideration which occurs on rare occasions. It will also appear that the strength of the slider is maintained in that the slider as constructed has maintained the rigidity throughout the central portion thereof which is subjected to the strain of the pull. While the flanges I6, 22 are in themselves rigid, there is a slight yielding or spring action which will prevail which will be sufiicient to compensate for any vertical stresses or strains to which the top and bottom walls [4 and I5 may be subjected.

It will of course be understood that while certain adaptations of the invention are disclosed, these are merely illustrative of the possible uses of this invention and the particular skeleton form of the sliders is of no real factor aside from the structural features which are essential for the successful operation of the slider.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A slider for separable fastener stringers having links, said slider comprising a skeleton frame having spaced top and bottom frame parts joined at one wide end in a connecting web, at least one of said frame parts comprising side flanges of L-shaped cross sectional form flaring from the narrow to the wide end thereof, narrow cross bars integrally joining the ends of said flanges, the cross bars at the wide end of the slider being 5 joined by said web, said frame part having a central bar extending longitudinally of the slider and integrally joining said cross bars, said side flanges being of the same cross sectional form throughout the length thereof, said central bar having sub- 1( stantially parallel side walls andbeing of a width suflicient only to cover the interlocked portions of said links, said flanges, bars and web guiding the stringer links through the slider in coupling and uncoupling the stringers, and said central bar 15 supporting the links against displacement outwardly through the longitudinal central portion of said frame part.

2. A slider for separable fastener stringers having thermoplastic links, said slider comprising a skeleton frame having spaced top and bottom frame parts joined at one wide end in a connecting web, said frame parts each comprising side flanges of L-shaped cross sectional form flaring from the narrow to the wide end thereof, narrow 25 cross bars integrally joining the ends of said flanges, the cross bars at the wide end of the slider being joined by said web, each frame part having a central bar extending longitudinally of the slider and integrally joining said cross bars, 30 said side flanges being of the same cross sectional form throughout the length thereof, said central bars having substantially parallel side walls and being of a width sufficient only to cover the interlocked portions of said links, said flanges, bars 35 and web guiding the stringer links through the slider in coupling and uncoupling the stringers, said central bars supporting the links against displacement outwardly through the longitudinal central portion of said frame parts, and the inner 40 opposed surfaces of the cross bars of said frame parts having a slight clearance to compensate for distortion of thermoplastic links.

LOUIS H. MORIN. 

